[Animals] Red squirrels adopt orphaned pups

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Experts have verified that adoption between red squirrels does occur. This fact amazed the members of the scientific community.
Scientists from the universities of Guelph, Alberta and McGill, in the United States and Canada, verified that red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) adopt the young that have been orphaned. This study was published in Nature Communications.

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Why do red squirrels adopt orphaned pups?
“SOCIAL ANIMALS, SUCH AS LIONS OR CHIMPANZEES, ARE ALWAYS SURROUNDED BY THEIR RELATIVES, AND IT IS NOT UNSURPASSED FOR A FEMALE TO ADOPT AN ORPHANED FAMILY MEMBER BECAUSE THEY HAVE SPENT A LONG TIME TOGETHER,” EXPLAINS ANDREW MCADAM, EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGIST AND CO-AUTHOR FROM WORK.

“BUT RED SQUIRRELS LIVE ALMOST COMPLETELY ISOLATED AND ARE VERY TERRITORIAL. THE ONLY TIME THEY LET ANOTHER SQUIRREL INTO THEIR TERRITORY IS WHEN THE FEMALES ARE READY TO MATE."

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Therefore, it is surprising that they adopt offspring that have been left without a mother.

Red squirrels only adopt orphaned offspring that carry at least a percentage of their same genes.

“IT IS SURPRISING THAT RED SQUIRRELS ARE ABLE TO DISTINGUISH THEIR RELATIVES. BECAUSE THEY NORMALLY DO NOT INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER.” ADMITS MCADAM TO VERY INTERESTING SPAIN.

How are the squirrels?
The red squirrel is a medium-sized tree-dwelling rodent. Males and females are the same size. Its length is from 20 to 25 centimeters. The tail measures 15 to 20 centimeters. Lastly, their body weight is 230 to 400 grams.

Its coat is characterized by being soft and the color of the upper part is reddish.

These squirrels have a gestation period of 38 days. In one birth, two to five young are born and weigh from eight to 10 grams. These rodents open their eyes approximately 30 days after birth.

https://www.ngenespanol.com/animales/ardillas-rojas-adoptan-crias-huerfanas/